Gass leads in judicial race

SAN BERNARDINO — After the initial election results, Rancho Cucamonga based prosecutor Bridgid “Briye” McCann looks like she has the best shot of becoming San Bernardino County’s next superior court judge.

With just over nine percent of the absentee ballots counted, McCann leads with 55 percent of the vote.

Barstow attorney Ben Echols from Apple Valley is in second place with almost 23 percent of the vote, but Defense Attorney James Gass is close behind, trailing by only 165 votes.

Gass has garnered 12 judicial endorsement but many voters in favor of public safety are inclined to vote for a prosecutor, which so far looks like it has paid off for McCann.

Gass said that he expected McCann to score early on in the absentees because she came out on the first big Republican slate mailer.

“I’m expecting the later votes to break my way,” Gass said.

Echols remained positive Tuesday night as well. He said he was happy with the support he received in Barstow.

David Arizaga, who voted in Barstow at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, said he did not recognize a lot of names on the ballot for Tuesday but he did recogize Echols. Echols got Arizaga’s vote.

“He’s a pretty cool guy,” Arizaga said.

Staff writer Aaron Aupperlee contributed to this report.